Auburn’s defense to be tested vs. sharpshooting Texas A&M offense
Riding a four-game win streak and one of the nation's top offenses, Texas A&M travels to face Auburn in a Southeastern Conference clash Tuesday night.
The Aggies (11-3, 1-0 SEC) are coming off a three-point win over LSU on Saturday. They are averaging 94.7 points a game, fifth in the nation, and have scored over 100 points in a game six times.
"Auburn is good," said first-year Aggies coach Bucky McMillan after the win. "They're long. They're really good at home. They've got good one-on-one players and they'll be hungry after losing a close one to Georgia."
Auburn (9-5, 0-1) and Georgia played one of the most entertaining games of the season Saturday. The Tigers forced overtime when Kevin Overton scored on a baseline jumper after a missed Tigers free throw with 0.7 seconds left, but Georgia prevailed 104-100.
New Auburn coach Steven Pearl was critical of his team's defense in his postgame remarks.
"Our one-on-one defense is terrible. We just continually work on it and let guys drive right around us. At some point, we've got to have an identity," Pearl said after the loss during which Georgia shot 52.3% from the floor. "I'm always going to figure out what I can do better. ... But my team's got to do a better job of finding out their identity defensively and taking some accountability in their one-on-one defense -- because I can't go out there and guard for them."
After reaching the Final Four last season, the Tigers have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, losing to Top 10 teams Arizona, Michigan, Purdue and Houston all away from home.
Four different Tigers are averaging double digits in points, led by UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall with 20.1 points and followed by guard Tahaad Pettiford with 15.1.
But Pettiford didn't start against Georgia because of disciplinary reasons.
"It was a coach's decision," Pearl said. "It was a failure to meet our team's standards and expectations. Tahaad's got to do a better job of leading by example. That's something we continuously talk about."
McMillan has carried over his high-energy, fast-paced brand of "Bucky Ball" in his first year at Texas A&M. The Aggies' offense is led by Ruben Dominguez (13.6 points) and Rashaun Agee (13.0). The Aggies shoot over 30 threes a game and are second in the nation in assists (21.4 per game).
With Mackenzie Mgbako done for the season with a foot injury, Agee is the team's tallest starter at 6-foot-7.
"We've got to be us," McMillan said. "There can't be any confusion on what we are. We're a three-point shooting team and a full-court pressing team. We've got to be who we are."